Toby Gerhart, What Do We do With You?

With Denard Robinson’s 22 rushing attempts for 127 yards and a touchdown Toby Gerhart must be beginning to sweat. The Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled to run the ball all season long behind both Gerhart and Robinson but against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday things just clicked.

Sunday’s game was Denard Robinson’s the whole way and he showed that he can easily carry load as the feature back.

The problem is that Gerhart was brought in to be that feature back for the Jaguars. He was brought in to be the workhorse that replaced Maurice Jones-Drew. Robinson was supposed to be an off-pace back, an offensive wrinkle, heck he was called an “OW” or “offensive weapon” still. After Sunday’s game it looks more and more like Robinson really is a running a back.

With Robinson appearing able to do it all against the Browns and Storm Johnson putting together 16 yards on six carries (which is about what Gerhart averages this season) is there even room for Gerhart in Jacksonville?

Gerhart sat out Sunday’s game with a foot injury, but it may have bumped him down the depth chart a couple of spots.

In order for Gerhart to be worth his money, he’ll have to prove that the offensive line had more to do with Robinson’s week seven success than Robinson’s skill did. The offensive line’s run blocking was considerably better on Sunday but even with decent blocking Gerhart hasn’t been nearly as explosive as Robinson promises to be.

With seven games in the books and the Jaguars 1-6 there’s no reason to suppose something drastic is going to change for Gerhart. He’ll likely stick the rest of the season with the Jaguars at least. But those last nine games just started to look more like an audition to make the team next year more than they are simply “games.” The Jags have improved a lot the last few weeks and Gerhart will have to prove that he has improved with everyone else as well.

So, can he do it?

Personally, I hope he can. I hope this was an offensive line issue more than anything else and the running situation is “fixed.” The reality, however, is probably that this game was an anomaly for the offensive line and Robinson. the Browns are no slouch, but the Miami Dolphins will provide a better test next week. If the Jags can continue to move the ball with Robinson then Gerhart will have to show he’s worth that free agent money he signed this offseason. Otherwise we may be looking at a different backfield next year. A backfield led by Shoelace.